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the awful fate； should it ever fall upon you； of finding your children grow up and become that which makes you wish they had died in their infancy。 There are times when I am tempted to regret that /all/ my treasures are not in that other world； that they had not gone before me。 Yes； sorrow is the lot of all。〃
〃Surely； not of all；〃 dissented Lady Isabel。 〃There are some bright lots on earth。〃
〃There is not a lot but must bear its appointed share；〃 returned Mrs。 Hare。 〃Bright as it may appear； ay； and as it may continue to be for years； depend upon it； some darkness must overshadow it； earlier or later。〃
〃Mr。 and Mrs。 Carlylewhat sorrow can there be in store for them？〃 asked Lady Isabel； her voice ringing with a strange sound； which Mrs。 Hare noted； though she understood it not。
〃Mrs。 Carlyle's lot is bright；〃 she said； a sweet smile illumining her features。 〃She loves her husband with an impassioned love； and he is worthy of it。 A happy fate； indeed； is hers； but she must not expect to be exempted from sorrow。 Mr。 Carlyle has had his share of it；〃 continued Mrs。 Hare。
〃Ah！〃
〃You have doubtless been made acquainted with his history。 His first wife left himleft home and her children。 He bore it bravely before the world； but I know that it wrung his very heart…strings。 She was his heart's sole idol。〃
〃She？ Not Barbara？〃
The moment the word 〃Barbara〃 had escaped her lips； Lady Isabel； recollected herself。 She was only Madame Vine； the governess； what would Mrs。 Hare think of her familiarity？
Mrs。 Hare did not appear to have noticed it； she was absorbed in the subject。
〃Barbara？〃 she uttered； 〃certainly not。 Had his first love been given to Barbara； he would have chosen her then。 It was given to Lady Isabel。〃
〃It is given his wife now？〃
Mrs。 Hare nearly laughed。
〃Of course it is； would you wish it to be buried in the grave with the dead； and with one who was false to him？ But； my dear； she was the sweetest woman； that unfortunate Lady Isabel。 I loved her then； and I cannot help loving her still。 Others blamed her； but I pitied。 They were well matched； he so good and noble； she； so lovely and endearing。〃
〃And she left himthrew him to the winds with all his nobility and love！〃 exclaimed the poor governess； with a gesture of the hands that looked very much like despair。
〃Yes。 It will not do to talk ofit is a miserable subject。 How she could abandon such a husband； such children； was a marvel to many； but to none more than it was to me and my daughter。 The false stepthough I feel almost ashamed to speak out the thought； lest it may appear to savor of triumphwhile it must have secured her own wretchedness； led to the happiness of my child； for it is certain Barbara would never love one as she loves Mr。 Carlyle。〃
〃It did secure wretchedness to her； you think？〃 cried Lady Isabel； her tone one of bitter mockery more than anything else。
Mrs。 Hare was surprised at the question。
〃No woman ever took that fatal step yet； without its entailing on her the most dire wretchedness；〃 she replied。 〃It cannot be otherwise。 And Lady Isabel was of a nature to feel remorse beyond commonto meet it half…way。 Refined； modest； with every feeling of an English gentlewoman； she was the very last； one would have thought； to act so。 It was as if she had gone away in a dream； not knowing what she was doing； I have thought so many a time。 That terrible mental wretchedness and remorse did overtake her； I know。〃
〃How did you know it？ Did you hear it？〃 exclaimed Lady Isabel； her tone all too eager； had Mrs。 Hare been suspicious。 〃Did he proclaim thatFrancis Levison？ Did you hear it from him？〃
Mrs。 Hare； gentle Mrs。 Hare； drew herself up； for the words grated on her feelings and on her pride。 Another moment； and she was mild and kind again； for she reflected that the poor； sorrowful governess must have spoken without thought。
〃I know not what Sir Francis Levison may have chose to proclaim；〃 she said； 〃but you may be sure he would not be allowed opportunity to proclaim anything to me； or to any other friend of Mr。 Carlyle's； nay； I should say； nor to any of the good and honorable。 I heard it from Lord Mount Severn。〃
〃From Lord Mount Severn？〃 repeated Lady Isabel。 And she opened her lips to say something more； but closed them again。
〃He was here on a visit in the summer； he stayed a fortnight。 Lady Isabel was the daughter of the late earlperhaps you may not have known that。 HeLord Mount Severntold me； in confidence； that he had sought out Lady Isabel when the man； Levison； left her； he found her sick； poor； broken…hearted； in some remote French town； utterly borne down with remorse and repentance。〃
〃Could it be otherwise？〃 sharply asked Lady Isabel。
〃My dear； I have said it could not。 The very thought of her deserted children would entail it； if nothing she did。 There was a baby born abroad；〃 added Mrs。 Hare； dropping her voice； 〃an infant in its cradle； Lord Mount Severn said； but that child； we knew； could only bring pain and shame。〃
〃True；〃 issued from her trembling lips。
〃Next came her death； and I cannot but think it was sent to her in mercy。 I trust she was prepared for it； and had made her peace with God。 When all else is taken from us； we turn to him； I hope she had learned to find the Refuge。〃
〃How did Mr。 Carlyle receive the news of her death？〃 murmured Lady Isabel； a question which had been often in her thoughts。
〃I cannot tell； he made no outward sign either of satisfaction or grief。 It was too delicate a subject for any one to enter upon with him； and most assuredly he did not enter upon it himself。 After he was engaged to my child； he told me he should never have married during Lady Isabel's life。〃
〃Fromfromthe remains of affection？〃
〃I should think not。 I inferred it to be from conscientious scruples。 All his affection is given to his present wife。 There is no doubt that he loves her with a true； a fervent； a lasting love： though there may have been more romantic sentiment in the early passion felt for Lady Isabel。 Poor thing！ She gave up a sincere heart； a happy home。〃
Ay； poor thing！ She had very nearly wailed forth her vain despair。
〃I wonder whether the drawing…room is tenanted yet；〃 smiled Mrs。 Hare； breaking a pause which had ensued。 〃If so I suppose they will be expecting me there。〃
〃I will ascertain for you；〃 said Lady Isabel； speaking in the impulse of the moment； for she was craving an instant to herself； even though it were but in the next hall。
She quitted the gray parlor and approached the drawing…room。 Not a sound came from it； and； believing it was empty； she opened the door and looked cautiously in。
Quite empty。 The fire blazed； the chandelier was lighted； but nobody was enjoying the warmth or the light。 From the inner room； however； came the sound of the piano； and the tones of Mr。 Carlyle's voice。 She recognized the chords of the musicthey were those of the accompaniment to the song he had so loved when she sang it him。 Who was about to sing it to him now？
Lady Isabel stole across the drawing…room to the other door； which was ajar。 Barbara was seated at the piano； and Mr。 Carlyle stood by her； his arm on her chair； and bending his fac